Gabriel was still focused on the strange pond before him, when he noticed that the sound of battle had stopped. The ground wasn't constantly shaking anymore. It was as if the battle outside had come to a halt.
He was curious about the outcome. He had seen how strong Ezekiel was. So he was sure Ezekiel wasn't going to be defeated. That made him feel that the battle was Ezekiel's victory.
Eventually, he decided to leave the Palace. He glanced at the strange pond one last time, before turning around.
It doesn't matter even if the pond was anything species. It had to be buried with the entire palace!
As Gabriel walked out of the palace, he destroyed every foundation of the Palace that helped it stand up.
Right as he stepped out, he destroyed the last foundation as well, watching the entire palace crumbling down, burying everything inside.
However, as soon as he stepped out, he noticed that the once chaotic battlefield had transformed into an eerie stillness. The air was heavy with an unusual silence, devoid of the clash of weapons and the cries of warriors.
The entire landscape seemed frozen in time, as if nature itself held its breath in anticipation.
Gabriel's brow furrowed in confusion. He scanned his surroundings, searching for any signs of life or movement. The bodies of fallen gods lay scattered across the ground, their limbs twisted and lifeless.
The vibrant colors of their armor and banners had been dulled by a layer of dust and ash, adding to the desolation of the scene.
His gaze shifted to the horizon, where the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the battlefield.
The golden hues of the fading daylight danced upon the motionless forms, creating an eerie spectacle.
He cautiously walked further, his footsteps echoing through the silence. Suddenly, he heard a soft rustling sound, like the whisper of a gentle breeze.
Turning towards the source, he spotted a figure emerging from behind a large boulder. It was Ezekiel, his once majestic armor now marred with dirt and bloodstains.
"Ezekiel!" Gabriel called out, relief flooding his voice. "What happened here? Why is everything so still?"
Ezekiel approached with slow, deliberate steps, weariness etched upon his face. His usually bright eyes were filled with a mix of exhaustion and sorrow.
"It's over," he replied, his voice laced with a heavy burden. "The battle... it reached its conclusion in a way I never expected."
Gabriel's eyes widened, waiting for Ezekiel to elaborate. His heart raced, fearing the worst.
"I failed..." Ezekiel began, his voice filled with remorse. "We fought fiercely, but in the end, neither of us could emerge victorious. The power she unleashed... It was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. It consumed everything in its path."
Gabriel's mind raced with questions.
"Consumed everything?" The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Gabriel's shoulders. "So, what is the plan now?"
Ezekiel's eyes revealed sadness and disappointment. His face was pale, as if it lacked any trace of blood.
Ezekiel stepped closer to Gabriel. His legs stumbled, as if he suddenly lost balance thanks to weakness.
Gabriel subconsciously reached out to help prevent Ezekiel's fall. However, as soon as he reached out his hand, he felt a strange sense of danger... The feeling he received from Ezekiel was different...
At the last moment, he stopped himself and jumped back. Unfortunately, that didn't happen before Ezekiel thrust a sword, which managed to slice through Gabriel's flesh.
If Gabriel was just a little late, the sword would've sliced through him.
Ezekiel who was stumbling previously stood up straight. His eyes revealed surprise. "How did you see through me?"
"You're not Ezekiel," Raven frowned, watching the wound on his shoulder slowly heal.
"Who am I?" Ezekiel asked. His face slowly transformed into Gabriel's face.
"I am you," the man spoke.
However, his face once again changed. He transformed into a woman, who was none other than Gabriel's mother.
One after another, multiple versions of the man appeared all around Gabriel, all having faces of people that he knew, including Alion, Zena, Cylix and Novius.
"I am the God of Illusions," the man spoke, laughing. "The man who will be killing you."
Even though he couldn't see through Gabriel's memories, he could see the people dear to Gabriel and use them in illusions to his advantage.
His fighting strength wasn't high, which was why he hadn't gone to fight Ezekiel. However, on land, his illusions were the strongest, which could entrap even some gods.
Gabriel stood amidst the swirling illusions, his mind assaulted by images of his loved ones.
The God of Illusions had trapped him in a labyrinth of deceit, using the faces of those he cherished most to weaken his resolve. The figures circled him, their voices echoing in his ears, calling out to him with pleas for help and cries of despair.
A mixture of anger and determination welled up within Gabriel. He refused to succumb to the illusions, knowing that they were nothing more than a facade, a cruel trick meant to distract and confuse.
He closed his eyes, focusing his mind.
"You already told me that these are illusions. Do you think this will work?"
Gabriel swung his sword in a wide arc, shattering the illusions around him. The figures dissipated into thin air, leaving behind only echoes of their voices. Gabriel opened his eyes, his gaze fixated on the true form of the God of Illusions.
"You will not deceive me!" Gabriel declared, his voice laced with unwavering determination.
"This is just the beginning." The God of Illusions snarled, his illusions flickering and warping as Gabriel's resolve intensified.
He unleashed a barrage of illusory attacks, but Gabriel moved with agility and precision, dodging each strike with calculated grace. However, amongst thousands of Illusory attacks, he mixed some real attacks to fool Gabriel.
It was as if the first attack was to convince him that illusions were useless, making him lower his guard, while the second attack was the real attack.
